Cialis (Tadalafil) Drug Information
- Why
- How
- Other Uses
- Precautions
- Special Dietary
- If I Forget
- Side Effects
- Storage Conditions
- Overdose
- Other Information
- Brand Names
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Why is this medication prescribed?
Tadalafil (Cialis) is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence; inability to get or keep an erection) in men. Cialis (tadalafil) (Adcirca) is used to improve the ability to exercise in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; high blood pressure in the vessels carrying blood to the lungs, causing shortness of breath, dizziness, and tiredness). Cialis (tadalafil) is in a class of medications called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. It works to treat erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. This increased blood flow can cause an erection. Cialis (tadalafil) treats PAH by relaxing the blood vessels in the lungs to allow blood to flow easily.
If you are taking Cialis (tadalafil) to treat erectile dysfunction, you should know that it does not cure erectile dysfunction or increase sexual desire. Cialis (tadalafil) does not prevent pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
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How should this medicine be used?
Cialis (tadalafil) comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It may be taken with or without food.
If you are taking Cialis (tadalafil) to treat erectile dysfunction, follow your doctor's directions and the guidelines in this paragraph. There are two different ways to take Cialis (tadalafil). Talk to your doctor about which dosing schedule is right for you. It is sometimes taken as needed before sexual activity, not more often than once every 24 hours. Your doctor will help you decide the best time for you to take Cialis (tadalafil) before sexual activity. Cialis (tadalafil) is also sometimes taken once a day every day without regard to timing of sexual activity. You may attempt sexual activity at any time between doses. If you are taking Cialis (tadalafil) on a regular schedule, take it at around the same time every day. If you have certain health conditions or are taking certain medications, your doctor may tell you to take Cialis (tadalafil) less often or may prescribe a lower dose to be taken once a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Cialis (tadalafil) exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
If you are taking Cialis (tadalafil) to treat PAH, follow your doctor's directions and the guidelines in this paragraph. You should take Cialis (tadalafil) one time a day with or without food. Take all of the tablets for your daily dose at one time each day; do not divide the tablets to take as separate doses. Take Cialis (tadalafil) at around the same time every day.
If you are taking Cialis (tadalafil) for erectile dysfunction, your doctor will probably start you on an average dose of Cialis (tadalafil) and increase or decrease your dose depending on your response to the medication. Tell your doctor if Cialis (tadalafil) is not working well or if you are experiencing side effects.
If you are taking Cialis (tadalafil) for PAH, you should know that Cialis (tadalafil) controls PAH but does not cure it. Continue to take Cialis (tadalafil) even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Cialis (tadalafil) without talking to your doctor.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
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Other uses for this medicine
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
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What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking Cialis (tadalafil):
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Cialis (tadalafil) or any other medications.
- do not take Cialis (tadalafil) if you are taking or have recently taken nitrates such as isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil), isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO), and nitroglycerin (Nitro-BID, Nitro-Dur, Nitroquick, Nitrostat, others). Nitrates come as tablets, sublingual (under the tongue) tablets, sprays, patches, pastes, and ointments. Ask your doctor if you are not sure whether any of your medications contain nitrates.
- do not take street drugs containing nitrates ('poppers') such as amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate, or nitrite while taking Cialis (tadalafil).
- you should know that Cialis (tadalafil) is available under the brand names Adcirca and Cialis. You should only be treated with one of these products at a time.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: alpha blockers such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), tamsulosin (Flomax), and terazosin (Hytrin); amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); certain antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin, Gris-PEG), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Nizoral A-D, Xolegal,),and voriconazole (Vfend); aprepitant (Emend); bosentan (Tracleer);carbamazepine (Tegretol); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac`); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac); efavirenz (Sustiva);erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); HIV protease inhibitors including indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept),and ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), lovastatin (Altocor, Mevacor); medications for high blood pressure; nefazodone (Serzone); nevirapine (Viramune); other medications or treatments for erectile dysfunction; other medications or treatments for PAH; phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rimactane); sertraline (Zoloft); and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
- tell your doctor if you smoke, if you have ever had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours, and if you have recently lost a large amount of body fluids (dehydration). Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD; blockage of veins in the lungs); any condition that affects the shape of the penis; diabetes; high cholesterol; high or low blood pressure; irregular heartbeat; a heart attack or heart failure; angina (chest pain); a stroke; ulcers in the stomach; a bleeding disorder; blood circulation problems; blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia (a disease of the red blood cells), multiple myeloma (cancer of the plasma cells), or leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells); or heart, kidney, or liver disease. Also tell your doctor if you or any of your family members have or have ever had an eye disease such as retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited eye condition that causes loss of vision) or if you have ever had sudden severe vision loss, especially if you were told that the vision loss was caused by a blockage of blood flow to the nerves that help you see.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Cialis (tadalafil), call your doctor.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Cialis (tadalafil).
- ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking Cialis (tadalafil). Alcohol can make the side effects from Cialis (tadalafil) worse. Your doctor will tell you how much alcohol you may drink while you are taking this medication.
- if you are taking Cialis (tadalafil) to treat erectile dysfunction, tell your doctor if you have ever been advised by a health care professional to avoid sexual activity for medical reasons or if you have ever experienced chest pain during sexual activity. Sexual activity may be a strain on your heart, especially if you have heart disease. If you experience chest pain, dizziness, or nausea during sexual activity, call your doctor immediately and avoid sexual activity until your doctor tells you otherwise.
- tell all your health care providers that you are taking Cialis (tadalafil). If you ever need emergency medical treatment for a heart problem, the health care providers who treat you will need to know when you last took Cialis (tadalafil).
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What special dietary instructions should I follow?
If you are taking Cialis (tadalafil) on a regular schedule, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose or more than one dose per day to make up for a missed one.
If you are taking Cialis (tadalafil) for PAH, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
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What should I do if I forget a dose?
Cialis (tadalafil) may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
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What side effects can this medication cause?
Sumatriptan may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- headache
- indigestion or heartburn
- nausea
- diarrhea
- flushing
- pain in the stomach, back, muscles, arms, or legs
- cough
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- sudden loss of vision (see below for more information)
- blurred vision
- changes in color vision (seeing a blue tinge on objects or having difficulty telling the difference between blue and green)
- sudden decrease or loss of hearing (see below for more information)
- ringing in ears
- erection that lasts longer than 4 hours
- dizziness
- chest pain
- hives
- rash
- blistering or peeling of skin
Some patients experienced a sudden loss of some or all of their vision after they took Cialis (tadalafil) or other medications that are similar to Cialis (tadalafil). The vision loss was permanent in some cases. It is not known if the vision loss was caused by the medication. If you experience a sudden loss of vision while you are taking Cialis (tadalafil), call your doctor immediately. Do not take any more doses of Cialis (tadalafil) or similar medications such as sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you talk to your doctor.
Some patients experienced a sudden decrease or loss of hearing after they took Cialis (tadalafil) or other medications that are similar to Cialis (tadalafil). The hearing loss usually involved only one ear and may not get better. It is not known if the hearing loss was caused by the medication. If you experience a sudden loss of hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears or dizziness, while you are taking Cialis (tadalafil), call your doctor immediately. Do not take any more doses of Cialis (tadalafil) or similar medications such as sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra) until you talk to your doctor.
Cialis (tadalafil) may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
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What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
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In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
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What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor.
Call your doctor if you continue to have symptoms.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
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Brand Names
- Adcirca®
- Cialis®